The legacy of this beloved Wake principal will be carried on in renamed school gym
The gym at Lufkin Road Middle School in Apex has been renamed in honor of a beloved former principal who unexpectedly died in 2022.
The Wake County school board unanimously approved Tuesday renaming Lufkin’s gym after Karen Sinders, who was the principal for 10 years. Sinders, 62, passed away while working at the school on Nov. 21, 2022.
“Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert put it best when he said that Mrs. Sinders ‘was always that person who linked people together . . . she loved our community and made sure her staff and students were a part of things,’” said a letter requesting the name change that was signed by 94 current and former Lufkin staff members. “It is with overwhelming support that we hope that you consider this request to honor and remember our former principal and advocate.”
Wake now tries to avoid naming schools after people. But the district does name parts of school campuses after individuals.
“I can’t speak for her, but she was so proud of that school,” said school board member Lindsay Mahaffey. “I’m just so glad to see her family here today. She is very missed.”
Sinders fought for gym renovations
The supporters of the name change pointed to the role Sinders played in having a functional gym space for all students.
Lufkin’s campus used to be an industrial plant before it was purchased by the school system. Due to the structure of the gym, “home” volleyball and basketball games had to be played at a nearby community center.
The letter says Sinders and Rob Weidenburner, the school’s former athletic director, “made it their mission to make Lufkin’s gym equitable for all students.”
After two years of fighting for the school, renovations to the gym were completed in 2019.
“Karen lived for LRMS and wanted the best for all the students there,” Weidenburner says in the letter. “The gym was only a fraction of the things she did around that building and in the community to promote how amazing the Lightning was and still is.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 6:40 PM.
